View Full Version : RWS - 1 the Magician
Seemingly taking its cue from the Wirth representation, Pixie depicts the four elements in lieu of the tools of the trade upon the table (of course, the Wirth had the Wand and three representative elements upon the table).
Unlike the earlier Marseilles type decks, Waite also inverses the raised and downward arms: the Magician's right arm is now raised, his left (especially index finger) pointing to the Earth, seemingly drawing down into focussed manisfestation the Will from above.
Interestingly, and like the Fool before, so many aspects of this card is the mirror image of that which came before in the Marseilles: not only are the arms inversed, but so is the table and the voluminous vegetation.
The Magician's hat has been replaced by a hair band and a suspended lemniscate, further emphasised by the ouroboros of his belt.
The Roses and Lillies, this time represented as a garden, are symbols repeatedly used...
Silverlotus
16-01-2003, 11:08
I generally see the upraised hands as relating to the idea of "as above, so below." The right hand is raised because itis the active hand, while the left hand is lowered because it is the passive hand. He draws down the power/spirit/whathave you with his right hand, and directs it into the earth, into physical being with his left hand. I think the use of the wand in his right is sort of like a lightning rod, to help draw down more power.
Perhaps the Marseilles decks were drawn without regard to the magical tradition of passive and active, or maybe the roles of the hands where reversed when the deck was drawn? I have studied very little cermonial magic, so I have no idea. I tend to see this card more as the Magician as a representative of the God, maleness, etc., balanced by the High Priestess. Interestingly, if you look closely, it looks like her left hand is held slightly higher then her right.
what I have been curious about that card:
1) He uses a wand although there is another wand on the table in front of him - why ?
2) Is there any special meaning about the arrangement of the tools on the table ?
3) Why is his coat/vest/whatever coloured red ?
4) And then there was something about that the table would not be showed as a whole - but I forgot about that....
Aren't those great questions...
I'll respond in such a way as will undoubtedly not quite conform to responses which would be desired by those who prefer this deck - and will hopefully thereby also attract their responses.
If one looks at the 'transition' deck between the Marseilles depiction and the RWS depiction, ie, the Wirth, one sees within that card only three tools on the table precisely because of the hand-held wand. Yet this Wirth card, I think to most of us, looks a little imbalanced, as though there ought to be the full complement of elements upon the table... and so, I think, Waite's proper rendering of all elements thereon. This however, leads to either a duplication of the wand, or its 'non-acceptable' omission from the Magus' hand.
I think that, as some have, viewing the held wand as either a representation of Spirit's Will, or as a re-duplication upon the Magician of the four elements is taking away from the simplicity of what the image demands: to be a Magician, all basic tools need to be represented, and the Magus needs to uphold his wand - the rest is seeking to intellectualise the visual duplication which arises when the basic tools are represented by the four suits (as opposed to the tools of a cobbler, a trickster, etc.).
With regards to the colour of the vestments, the card as a whole is closely connected to the Magical Will - the colour red will therefore need to be somehow incorporated by those who seek such representation.
The three legs only of the table appearing certainly adds Masonic significance (three pillars around the pavement/table) - but it is also reproducing the Marseilles simplicity of design, which may not have had such implied association (which I do think is carried within the RWS).
As to the arrangements of the tools upon the table, certainly meaning can be derived - but could they have been effectively depicted in another manner?
Of perhaps greater significance are the number of roses and lilies, and the relationship of these to, respectively, the numbers 5 and 6.
In terms of the comment by Silverlotus with regards to which hand being upraised, I do understand the argument presented. I know that for myself, however, if I am actually working along those lines, and seek to 'bring down' the Will from above, it is my left arm which is raised, and my focussing right pointing towards the earth (with or without a wand). The right arm raised - but then lowered to its focal grounding point - is also appropriate for the magical act of the Magician's will...
...this should get some responses ;)
thank you very much, JMD !!
I am sorry in case I do not fulfill your expectations about an intense discussion as I lack the knowledge - on the other hand there are two question left :):
.) Why did the RW deck not show the magician with a magical weapon that one would associate with the fifth element ? Especially as it´s existence was part of the GD´s teaching...
.) What do you think is meant by 5 and 6 ? The elements and all that a pentacle contains with regard to that number on the one hand and fire united with water, so male united with female, so Tiphereth on the other hand ? A journey from the four elements over the fifth towards equilibrium, so to say a personal development of the Magician ?
Looking forward to your reply :)
I had an interesting discussion with a friend yesterday, whose opinion is held in high esteem by me. She said that she would not have thought of the thing in the Magician´s right hand to be a wand but a scroll, a scroll of wisdom and/or power, like the Tora of the HPS. I can not give a reason for it, but by mere feeling it does make more sense to me.
i agree with Lupo138 regarding the object being held in the right hand. It appears to resemble a scroll, not a wand. I also think of it as the counterpart to the scroll of The High Priestess. It suggests knowledge received from "above" or a higher level of consciousness. It could be seen as the fifth element--that of spirit. (The Deva Tarot has 5 suits of which the fifth is called Triax & represents the etheric or spirit.)
I have always seen the Magician as the great synthesis, the blending. The four suits are represented on the table. He stands before them in a "power pose". It seems to me that the qualities of the suits are embodied with in the Magician.
He also seems to be a conduit, linking the above with the below. He links higher knowledge with the mundane.
Thoughts?
firemaiden
02-02-2003, 18:51
Thank you for your interesting introduction, jmd. Isn't this magician a rather grand departure from the "bateleur" of the marseilles tradition? I mean the "bateleur" just looks like one of those annoying saltimbanques you see on the sidewalk...kind of a hustler, whose magic powers are limited to picking pockets.... and now we have a rather more young and elegant person, with apparently some dignified powers...how did we get here from there??
bateleur, euse n. Vieilli . Personne qui, en plein air, amuse le public par des tours et des pitreries. (= someone who amuses the public with tricks and clowning)
(dictionnaire universel francophone)
Originally posted by lupo138
I had an interesting discussion with a friend yesterday, whose opinion is held in high esteem by me. She said that she would not have thought of the thing in the Magician´s right hand to be a wand but a scroll, a scroll of wisdom and/or power, like the Tora of the HPS. I can not give a reason for it, but by mere feeling it does make more sense to me.
My first impression was that it is a candle, with two flames; yeah, strange enough... and if look at the card from certain distance, they lit (an effect related to the yellow space)...
I wonder about the pictures on the side of the table, as well as the word "DIN" right above the table's leg. I know Din is another name for Gevurah (the fifth sephrioth, hence the 5s? Maybe...?), but the Magician's path is from Kether to Chockmah...
paradoxx
17-04-2003, 02:35
How about the magicians belt and its relation to the lizard eatings its own tail design on the King of Wands card.
The wand does feel like a candle being yellow and a double of its counterpart on the table, sometimes, other times it feels more like a specific tool being used for this ceremony, depends on the nature of the reading.
sorry that it did me that long to answer - but the path of the magician has very different places ;)
The wands being held by the Magician are the same as the 2 wands that appear in the World card. Rachel Pollack talks about how in the World card she holds them with such ease as opposed to the firm grip with which the Magician holds his. I notice too that she holds them both at the same level (at her sides) where as the Magician holds his in the air. The Charioteer holds a similar wand but with one flame at the top and the colors are blue and yellow. The color of the Magician and World wands seem to be pure white to me.
paradoxx
14-05-2003, 17:21
i have bought a wand from a local metaphysical store. it is based on the chakras with a stone fore ach one and two pointed quartz crystals on the top and bottom.
stones bottom to top: obsidian, carnelian, citrane, rose quartz, aquamarine, azurite, amethyst.
I can see the magicians wand symbolizing this as well for all intents and purposes in a tarot reading.
Little Baron
14-07-2003, 13:58
I like the idea that what the magician holds is a scroll. Sheds a whole different angle on interpretation. I think that it is also interesting how he holds it directly in the middle. Maybe it is just me, but if I was holding a wand up in such a stance, I would hold it a bit further down. Anyway, maybe that is 'just' me.
I like the different interpretations though because there are no hard and fast rules. When this card comes up in a spread, it could be a scroll. In other readings it could definitely be some kind of 'magic' wand. Depending on other cards, possitions and the querants question, it could change again. I also could see it as a candle, but couldn't relate it to the card somehow. Maybe it is some kind of metal to conduct lightening?
Best wishes
Yaboot
I see the object that the magician is holding as a Djore. A Buddhist ceremonial item.
"The Dorje has an ancient history. It originally was a symbol for the Thunderbolt, wielded by the Hindu god Indra. In Buddhism, with its emphasis on clarity and enlightenment, it became a symbol for both a thunderbolt and a diamond. As a thunderbolt cuts through the dark of night, and a diamond can cut through any material, it is believed that an enlightened mind can cut through the fog of ignorance and confusion which we normally live in. Hence in Buddhism the Dorje became associated with the path to enlightenment."
http://www.siamese-dream.com/ceremonial/bell_dorje.html
Concerning DIN on the table leg, remember that we can only see one of the legs. We can only guess as to what the other legs say. We can also can only guess the number of legs that the table has!
I am also very curious about the carvings on the table. One's a dove, another looks like mountains but could be waves, and the middle one I can't make out.
hi Lupo138... here are some answers to your questions about the magician card... the red robe indicates his personal creative force... one hand is holding a double-terminated wand pointing upwards and the other hand is pointing down... this gesture reflects his ability to communicate the powers and gifts of Spirit to the material world... on the table before him are the tools he uses in his craft... rod/wand (spirit), cup (emotions), sword (mind), coin (matter)... his purpose is for greater spiritual achievement. and he is ruled by mercury... he is creativity in action! element: air.
hope this helps.
Karenwhe
12-01-2004, 15:58
This may come a little bit late or even very late. But on the subject....... I thought that this link may be of interest in regards to the symbols of the Magician.
http://wolf.mind.net/library/tarot/arcanum1.htm
of course you can see the rest of the cards if you click on table of contents. I find these pages very interesting.
paradoxx
13-01-2004, 00:10
The magician is hte alchamest, one who attempts to change the nature of reality through pure thought alone. He values all that comes his way, stones, gems, knowlege, finances, and friends, all are of timeless value to him (or her).
The energy of the dorje drawsn from teh lush folliage above to the foliage below, or perhaps it is the other way. The Magician acts as the medium of communication between what is above and below, he is embedded in the here and now as it is the here and now that will always be where things take place.
the Magician is aware of his own limitations, and is willing to push them to the limits and always without harm or prejudice. He is for the ultimate outcome, whatever it may be, and he tries to help others realize their own potential and abilities so that the ultimate outcome does not leave them behind.
aurarcana
05-07-2009, 14:24
I posted my interpretation in the other thread (http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=86718), but I might as well put it here too:
In a Tarot reading, The Magician is The Fool’s first mentor who offers him guidance after The Fool has embarked on his journey. It is evident that this is a time of new beginnings and self discovery for The Fool. The Magician has laid out all of the tools on the table-literally. But, we only see half of the table and part of the wand and sword, a subtle reminder that it is up to The Fool to seek what he desires. The Magician will lead you to believe that anything is possible. However, it’s key to remember that many events in life don’t just happen; you have to work towards a goal, whether it involves ambitions or relationships. There will always be events that you have no control over, but if you have the power to change the course of events, it is up to you to take the challenge and be strong.
There is a sense of balance in this card, and a sense of power. The Magician is staring directly at us, a gaze that looks convincing. But, it’s smart to remember that there is more than meets the eye.
ridercheung
01-08-2009, 02:05
The magician's left hand point to the earth, tell you that you should pay more attention on the table is half-size. This mean that collection of elements are unfinished. Also empty space in there will have things which you have not seen, let you to search for.
a magician stand between the sky and earth, as a bridge.